Longtime SC football officials come out for another curtain call at Metro Bowl

When the second annual Columbia Metro Senior Bowl kicks off at Brookland-Cayce’s football stadium Friday night, not only will it be an All-Star game among some of the top seniors in Richland, Lexington, Kershaw and Sumter counties, but it will be a reunion of sorts for the guys wearing the stripes.

Six high school referees who walked away from the game last year after the Metro Senior Bowl will be back in uniforms together. Bruce Hulion, Steve Burton, Chris Jones, Tim Livingston, Matt Wiggins and Carlton Smith probably have more than 200 years of experience between them and will call the game for the second season in a row. Steve Koon, who was on the field last season for the game, will also be there but will be on clock duty since he recently suffered three broken ribs.

Having that similarity will be key.

“It’s like dating a girl you know,” Smith joked.

Said Hulion: “You know what they’re going to do and will be where they’re supposed to be. When you work with different people, you have to take a few minutes or even a quarter to figure out if they’re going to hustle and be where they’re supposed to be and make the right calls. When you work together, you don’t worry about that. We’re not worried about each other out there.“

The fact these guys are coming out of retirement for a one-shot deal speaks louder volumes across the state and across the country, as well.

There are more than 200 public and private schools playing football across the state. That puts getting quality high school officials at a premium. In the South Carolina High School League alone, there are more than 700 officials who are members of the South Carolina Football Officials Association serving 206 schools, but that isn’t nearly enough.

There is a basic rating system in place that considers the Rules and Mechanics exam (40 percent), SCFOA Credit that considers years of experience (15 percent), fellow officials ratings (25 percent), district classroom meeting and preseason scrimmages (15 percent) as well as cooperation (5 percent).

Losing the group of officials that will be returning to the field Friday was a hit to the quality of officials available. As the group sat and chatted before last season’s game, they talked about how nice it is to work with officials who you know and understand what they’re going to do.

“Technically, every play in a football game, something is wrong. Whether you flag it or not is really up to the individual,” Hulion said. “Having the trust in your fellow officials is important.”

Some of this group has done several years of officiating college games, as well. But the high school game is what keeps drawing them back to the field. Most of the guys are former athletes themselves, and being around the game shows the love and commitment they have for it.

“Some do us college games, but college is like a job,” Smith said. “Doing high school games is pure football and is enjoyment. We don’t do this for money. It’s camaraderie, fellowship and brotherhood.”

There is also the fact that the job takes time away from their families and regular jobs. Last year during the first Columbia Senior Metro Bowl, Hulion was working on his 45th wedding anniversary. But considering it was going to be his final game before retirement, his wife never hesitated in letting him work it.

“Your employer and family have to support it,” Hulion said. “You leave work early on Thursday and Friday, and if your wife isn’t bought in, you might as well forget it. The memories are too many to name. It’s hard to pick a game or player that stands out. We’ve seen some fantastic things over the years.”

All-Star Football

What: Second annual Metro Bowl

When: Friday, 6:30 p.m. at Brookland-Cayce

Tickets: $10

This story was originally published December 20, 2019 at 5:00 AM.